Praying for Government Leaders (3): A Guide to Praying for Your Country
The past two days, we’ve focused on praying for our government leaders. We’ve prayed for the president, and his cabinet. And we’ve prayed for local, state, and federal government leaders using a prayer guide with scriptural basis for each request. Today we’ll be praying for our country using the guide below.
God cannot bless a nation that turns from Him. Doing what is right, living according to God’s standard, exalts and blesses a nation. But because God is sovereign and holy, He cannot bless a nation that has turned away from Him, like the United States has so grievously done.
Whatever country you’re joining us from, use the guide below to stand in the gap for your country.
Praying for Your Country
- Stand in the gap for your country. — Ezekiel 22:30-31, Psalm 106:23, Jeremiah 12:11
- Persist in prayer for our national leaders and all in authority. — 1 Timothy 2:1-4
- Recognize that failure to pray is sin. — 1 Samuel 12:23
- Seek the welfare of the city to which God has called you. — Jeremiah 29:7
- Pray for the election of godly leaders and that godless leaders will not hold positions of government. — Job 34:30
- Pray that unrighteousness will be exposed in your leaders and that God will remove them, if that is His will. — Psalm 5:10
- Pray that corrupt leaders will see the evil of their ways and repent. — 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Chronicles 32:12-13
- Pray that authorities will have a pure heart, good conscience, and faith in Christ. — 1 Timothy 1:5-6
- Pray for just leaders to rule in the fear of the Lord. — 2 Samuel 23:3
- Pray for your country to rely on God. — Psalm 60:11-12
- Repent and ask forgiveness for the sins of your country. — Daniel 9:5, 13; 2 Chronicles 7:14
- Pray that the God of your nation will be the Lord. — Psalm 20:7, Psalm 127:1, Psalm 33:12
- Pray that your nation will practice righteousness. — Proverbs 14:34
- Pray for revival in the Church and spiritual awakening in the nation. — 2 Chronicles 7:14
- Pray for God to protect your nation. — Psalm 119:29-30, Proverbs 29:2, Psalm 108:3-6,11-13 [1]
* Points in prayer taken from Prayer Portions by Sylvia Gunter. (See end note.)
Prayer Points With Full Scriptures
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 22:30-31, NIV)
“So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them” (Psalm 106:23, NIV).
“It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares” (Jeremiah 12:11, NIV)
Persist in prayer for your national leaders and all in authority.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…”
(1 Timothy 2:1-3). (Tweet this)
Recognize that failure to pray is sin.
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).
Seek the welfare of the cities to which God has called us.
“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…” (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV). (Tweet this)
Pray that leaders will know that their office was granted to them by God.
“For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). (Tweet this)
Pray for the election of godly leaders and that godless leaders will not hold positions of government.
“That a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people” (Job 34:30. ESV).
“Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you” (Psalm 5:10, ESV).
Pray that corrupt leaders will see the evil of their ways and repent.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
“Didn’t Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and you must burn incense on it’?
‘Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have any of the national gods of the lands been able to deliver their land from my power?'” (2 Chronicles 32:12-13, HCSB)
“Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion” (1 Timothy 1:5-6, HCSB).
“The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3, NKJV)
“A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses” (Proverbs 21:1, HCSB).
“For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you…” (Proverbs 2: 10-11, ESV).
“Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:11-12, NKJV).
“We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your command and laws” (Daniel 9:5, NIV).
“Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth” (Daniel 9:13, NIV).
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7, ESV). (Tweet this)
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1, ESV)
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). (Tweet this)
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). (Tweet this)
“Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me Your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me” (Psalm 119:29-30, HCSB).
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (Proverbs 29: 2, NKJV).See also Psalm 108: 3-6,11-13
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
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Tweetables
- A guide as you #pray for your country. One-sentence requests, with scripture basis for each: bit.ly/2jCRTZM
- “I urge that prayers … be made … for kings and all those who are in authority.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2
- “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…” ~ Jeremiah 29:7
- “There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” ~Romans 13:1
- “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” ~ Psalm 20:7
- “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
- “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” ~ Proverbs 14:34
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- Fasting Day 8: Grace for the Race
- Fasting Day 8: Gaining Thirst
- Fasting Day 8: Brokenness, Part 1
- Fasting Day 8: Feeding Faith, Part 2
- Fasting Day 8: God Fills the Hungry
- Prayer guide taken from Prayer Portions by Sylvia Gunter:
Gunter, Sylvia (1991-01-01). Prayer Portions (Kindle Locations 7313-7336). The Father’s Business. Kindle Edition.
I cannot recommend Prayer Portions highly enough. It is an excellent aid to prayer and intercession — with thorough, scriptural guides for prayer for oneself, family, friends, community, church, nation, leaders, revival, etc. Guided portions on praise, repentance, warfare, and personal and intercessory prayer make it an indispensable companion to one’s prayer time each day. You’ll no longer find your mind wandering in prayer, unable to fill the time, unaware of what to pray. Prayer Portions provides both instruction and detailed, scripture-packed guides concerning a variety of topics in prayer. Not only is it a helpful tool for every believer, it’s a valuable resource for churches to provide in prayer rooms, libraries, and book stores.
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“Natalie Grace Nichols is experiencing God’s grace and freely expressing it. My wife, Betty, and I thank God for the ministry of Jesus through Natalie.”
“I’m so thankful that God is raising up women like Natalie for a new generation, providing biblically balanced teaching, encouragement, and comfort for people who are enduring life’s trials.”
Praise God for this site. I came across this blog last year and it has really helped me… This year I made up my mind to start this fast, longing for a spiritual growth and closer walk with God. Praying that I begin to hear His voice again…. it’s been awhile 🙁
But sadly…today was not feeling well with a soar throat and I broke the fast. Feeling very miserable now… that I was unable to stick to it. Lord help me.
FastingGirl11, Thank you for your gracious comments about the blog. It's encouraging to hear how God is working through the site. It's all HIM!
I'm so sorry to hear about your frustrations—being sick and breaking your fast. (I so relate. Have had pneumonia and high fever since the day before the fast began. It's tough to stick with a fast when you're so sick physically. And it's even more aggravating if we break the fast. So I want to encourage you to keep going…)
Thankfully, a fast of this length is a marathon, not a sprint. So when we fall—when we mess up on our fast—we get up and keep going. I hope you got up, got back on the track, and headed to the finish line! The race isn’t over because you fell. Don’t quit or let the enemy discourage you. When we fail on our fast, we can always start fresh and leave the condemnation behind.
But I should clarify, a "fresh start" doesn't mean we start counting at day one again. There's no cause for a complete “do-over.” We just pick up where we were (day five, six, etc) and persevere to the finish line! I'm cheering you on! :))
Praise God for your response. May the Lord continue to use you mightily for His kingdom. Very encouraged reading your response.
Was on medication for 5 days and was having high fever. My dose just ended and I’m back on fast. Longing for more of Him in my life and less of me.
In our church here, we are going to different cities praying, we will be in the bus praying for the cities we pass by. We did this last Friday and again this Friday. Do keep us in your prayers.
Upholding you dear in my prayers.
God Bless You abundantly and continue to use you to bring many souls to Him.
Thank you Jesus.
I pray you are well and the fever is gone! Thank you for the updates on your health, and for letting me know your church is praying for surrounding cities. What a wonderful thing to do!!! I will be praying for you all this Friday.
Thank you so much for your prayers for me. I am in my third week of pneumonia. Fever is better, though. Praise the Lord!! (It was 104 the first week of Pursuit 21). I mainly just have chest congestion / infection left.
Many blessings in Jesus, my sister!
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